The musings, life hacks, and discoveries of me, Emmie Scott, the Real-World Debutante. I'm a twenty-something college graduate who's learning the ins and outs of life after college and her first (several!) full-time jobs.
I published this in 2011 and thought it still had enough merit to share again, especially since it's the time of year when it's getting harder to find reasons to keep your resolutions. Stay strong and know that your fitness goals aren't just leading you to a better body but to a better life!
One thing I’ve always loved about yoga, particularly when I’m going through a tough time, is that I can see parallels between my practice and the things I’m feeling in real life.
But if you think yoga’s too touchy-feely-stretchy-girly-tight-clothes-y for you, get excited because if you take a second to look past the sweat and achy muscles, great life lessons and parallels abound in whatever fitness activity you choose to participate in.
Whether you’re running, lifting, squatting, yoga-ing, swimming, or taking a kick-ass class, your body will inevitably run into many of the same obstacles that your brain will as you go through life. The big question, though, is whether or not you can take these bumps in stride and treat them as learning experiences, or if you let them trip you up and keep you down. For some of the lessons I’ve learned, read on after the jump — and definitely share your own experiences in the comments section! Are there any lessons YOU’VE learned from your fitness routine?
Want to get '20s fab without flapper kitsch? Here's how to mimic Art Deco style
This past weekend, I accompanied a group of friends to the Art Deco Society of Virginia’s first Jazz Age Preservation Ball, a benefit to raise funds for one of the oldest theaters in the city, erected in – you guessed it – classic Art Deco style.
The ball was incredible – everyone decked head to toe in their best vintage finds, doing the Charleston and Lindy Hop, and taking advantage of a beautiful old house kept in tip-top period shape by the Women’s League of Richmond. There were professional dancers doing exhibitions, a delightful jazz orchestra, and a duo of burlesque performers. It reminded me very vividly just what it is about Art Deco that’s so inspiring and lovely.
When we talk about the Art Deco movement, often the first (and only) thing people think it pertains to is architecture. While Art Deco buildings and homes are certainly distinctive, in my opinion, Art Deco is one of the most fascinating cultural movements in our recent history – music, architecture, clothing, literature, and all.
Unfortunately, when the early 20th century is mentioned, the beauty and elegance of Art Deco often gets overshadowed by the glitz, gangsters, and (lack of) gin that came with the (in)famous Roaring Twenties.
So if you’re looking for Art Deco glam without flapper kitsch, give this guide a quick spin for some nifty ideas.
- Check out The Artist, “Gosford Park,”“Downton Abbey,” and “Boardwalk Empire” for wardrobe inspiration.
- For day wear, look for drop waists, cloche hats, long strings of beads, t-strap heels, mid-calf or knee-length skirt suits, and boxy, tunic-like dresses. For evening wear, keep an eye out for drop waists again, delicate beading, glitzy headbands, fascinators, sleek mermaid-style gowns (‘30s), low backs, evening coats with large collars, FUR, and bias-cut seaming.
LeLuxe Clothing also has some incredible modern examples of Art Deco loveliness for your admiration.
- If you’re looking for makeup, film and TV are still great places to start. Also check out tutorials like this one and this one. For 1920s, think Mae West (cupid’s bow lips in bright shades, heavy kohl eyes, etc.) – for 1930s, think early Ginger Rogers or Joan Crawford (enhanced lashes, dark lip colors, very light rouge, etc.).
- Hair-wise, the 1920s were all about the pageboy and the bob. Whether worn curly or straight, bobs were in and long locks were out if you were a trendy working girl. Don’t despair if your hair is lengthy at the moment – if you want the look of the frizzy, curly fashionable bob, give this quick tutorial a shot. If you’re going for a more elegant, Downton look, you’re in luck – Lady Mary never cut her hair, so you can see her lovely, understated low chignon-style coifs, perfect for day or evening, on nearly every episode.
Looking more towards the ‘30s, I combined this ‘do and this one for a perfectly heavenly evening-worthy updo, shown at left. (I also prepped my hair for these styles by letting my hair spend a night and day in a sock bun… gorgeous, teasable curls are just one sock away!) Finger waves are also another popular Art Deco style, though they tend to be quite a challenge. If you’ve found a less-nightmarish way to make them work, let me know!! :)
- When considering accessories, think of long strands of beads and pearls, short but dangly clip-on or screw back earrings, statement rings with geometric designs, and pinky rings.
This guide is only a brief one, so feel free to contact me here or via message with any questions!
When it came time to take down my lovely Christmas fireplace decorations (three shadowboxes full of ornaments), I realized how empty the space was going to look and how tired I was of my old art. Sooooo...
I got super crafty a week or so ago and thanks to Pinterest and a little imaginative thinking of my own (and my friend Jen's impeccable taste in flowers), I managed to fill the space with an array of things that make me smile every time I look at them.
Kinda foodie, kinda fitness... New favorite snack!
Last night in the store, I was strolling along, minding my own business when a 2/$5 sign caught my eye. Above it, I saw this delightful orange and gold box -- Fiber Plus now makes protein bars! With 170 calories, 10g of protein, and 7g of fiber, and the fact that it's the closest thing to a protein Butterfinger I think I'll ever get, I'm officially hooked.
Just had to share with all my foodie, fitnessy folks -- it's always awesome to find new, tasty, easy ways to get the protein and fiber we need to make our bodies perform at their best!
Note: This officially makes 1 year worth of recipes that I've made! Cannot even believe it :)
Got a craving for something hearty, tangy, and so good and convenient and comfort foodie it’ll make you grin like a kid?
Try making Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken Barbecue. Seriously.
I made this the first time a few months ago, and was so impressed I couldn’t wait to make it again… and again… and again.
The other night, figuring my date and I would both be famished after a few hours scaling the walls at a nearby indoor climbing gym, I popped this recipe in the Crockpot on high and let it go. When we got back to my place, the whole apartment smelled heavenly and we only had to wait for the fries to cook before we both dove into some big, thick, shredded chicken BBQ sandwiches.
Hooked? Me, too. Read on for the recipe!
Ingredients:
6 frozen skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (12 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Prep:
- Place chicken in a slow cooker. In a bowl, mix the barbecue sauce, Italian salad dressing, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the chicken.
- Cover, and cook 3 to 4 hours on High or 6 to 8 hours on Low. (Note: it worked best for me when cooked 6-8 hours on low -- the chicken practically fell into shreds when poked. At 3-4 hours, it took a little more work, but the taste was still EXCELLENT.)
Serve on a whole wheat bun or flat bread with baked fries or some good ol’ mac’n’cheese!
So glad this week is about to wrap up -- as the first full one back from my holiday hiatus of fabulousness, it feels like the last several days have really been a few years. On the upside, though, I've always got Pinterest to keep me company, so here are a few of my pins du jour. (Click each photo to repin instantly!)
Enjoy!
Best funny:
I got nothin' other than a laugh that has a cute little snort at the end for this. Also, this would be my cat.
Foodie must-have:
Sauteed Tilapia with Lemon-Peppercorn Pan Sauce (you may see this on a future Monday!)
Fashion fave:
Iactually bought this coat in-store the other day and they're shipping me one in my size. I've been checking the tracking site like a crazy person -- I want my coat!!!! :)
Fitness awesomeness:
I think thisTangled-inspired workout is hilarious. Also, probably worth trying..
Aww of the moment:
No words. Just AWWWWWWWWWWWW. Awww for days.
Vintage love:
I am so incredibly in love with '40s style, and she's just the epitome of it. Oh if only...
Inspiration:
When I had a bit of a tough moment yesterday, it was thoughts like this one that got me through -- too good not to share :)
Work It Wednesday: 2013 Fitness Goals and Action Plan
I feel like I’m always telling you guys how to get fit and what works for me. That’s great and fun – it’s always fun and enlightening to exchange ideas with new folks – but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have my own fitness goals and need someone to tell me how to get fit, too!
Below, find my running, training, and general health goals for 2013 – and feel free to weigh in in the comment section if you have any tips, tricks, or resolutions of your own!!
RUNNING
- Goal: Get my knee and hip flexor issues under control.
- Plan: Ever since the 5k in December, my left knee has been killing me. I’ve started going to a chiropractor on a weekly basis for help straightening things out (literally!) and am open to moving up to someone on physical therapy or sports medicine that might be able to help me iron out the kinks in my stride and get my odometer back to registering some serious mileage.
- Goal: Acquire a running buddy
- Plan: I can tick this off my list as, in chatting with a work buddy, I discovered she was also in need of a running partner, specifically when it comes to training for the upcoming 10k. We started last night, actually – she’s getting back in shape, and I’m getting my knee back in shape. Can’t wait to see how many miles we rack up!
- Goal: Train for local April 13th 10k
- Plan: This will be the longest race I’ll have run to date. We’re starting at 3 mile runs and working our way up. My personal time goal is 55’, although I’m shooting for 50’. Now I’m nervous!
CROSS-TRAINING
- Goal: Attend each once per week: yoga, BodyAttack, BodyCombat
- Plan: This is more of a maintenance goal than a behavior-starting goal. I already attend these three classes every week – yoga being my treat to myself at the end of every week – and hope to continue the habit because I feel SO MUCH BETTER when I’m rocking my socks at the gym or on my mat.
- Goal: Try new activities (indoor climbing, snowboarding, etc.)
- Plan: The guy I’ve started seeing since my breakup is incredibly active (he actually puts my workout regimen to shame), so at some point I’m hoping to try some of the activities he likes so much. If not, there are always Groupon and LivingSocial deals! :) Any other ideas as to how I can branch out?
- Goal: Develop more long, lean muscle and increase strength in bum shoulder.
- Plan: I’m trying to get away from my left being my “bum” shoulder, so want to increase my strength and flexibility there as I build more lean muscle in the rest of my body. With that in mind, I have some fantastic workout DVDs that I use on nights when I can’t, for whatever reason, make it to the gym. In fact, I love waking up on Saturdays, eating a small breakfast, then popping in the DVD and grabbing my hand weights. I can already see increased definition in my arms, and am moving towards less pain and stiffness in my left shoulder. Woo!
GENERAL HEALTH
- Goal: Log all workouts with MapMyRun app
- Plan: I’ve started proactively logging the workouts I know I’ll be doing (classes and such) at the beginning of each week so that I don’t have to remember to do it every day. I’ve also moved the app icon to my front screen on my iPhone so I can look at the time, hit MapMyRun, and record each run.
- Goal: Cook at least twice a week, with extra opportunities for home-cookin’ on the weekends.
- Plan: Foodie Challenges will give me at least one excuse per week to cook… now I’ve just got to manufacture another one (and the motivation to follow through!). Maybe I’ll start having at least one night a week where I cook for a friend or a date… hm. Options, options! Can you think of any other reasons to I might take on to cook?
- Goal: Get more sleep – 7 hours a night, at least.
- Plan: This one’s going to be tough – between work, friends, dating, writing, grocery shopping, and workouts, I have no idea how I’m going to fit everything into my days, much less fit enough sleep into my nights. I’m averaging about 5.5-6.5 hours per night, so if I can bump it up to 7-7.5, I hope that will help me feel more refreshed each morning. Guess it’s time to start managing my time a little more closely!
No Velcro Allowed! How to Share Your Life, Not Usurp Your Partner’s
I know there were a few times over the course of the last year or so that I mentioned “my boyfriend this…” or “my man that…” Well, what wasn’t mentioned was the sort of dysfunctional relationship I was trying to convince myself was completely okay. In the name of loving me, he routinely coaxed me to put my feelings, hobbies, and needs on the back burner in favor of the all-important RELATIONSHIP. And I let him persuade me. I gave in.
In reality, I should’ve gotten to stepping as soon as I realized what was going on, because after a few months, what my ex was doing wasn’t just sharing my life, which is what I feel like typically happens in a healthy relationship. No, instead, he was completely razing the life I’d spent two years building for myself and trying to rebuild it from the ground up as OUR life.
Though I didn’t see it so much at the time, in retrospect, he reminds one of Wedding Crashers’ stage 5 clingers. That is, he was a remora who latched on to my emotional turmoil and the passion and ambition I routinely put into my life and tried to dress it, mold it, and direct it in the way he thought most appropriate.
I’ve been thinking about how to write about this past year without sounding pitiful, bitter, like a victim or, inversely, like a man-hater. So, since a lot of his behaviors are ones I more typically see erupting out of my more dependent female friends, perhaps the best way I can help you guys learn from the experience that brought me to the brink of disaster is to tell you not just how to avoid certain traits in others, but how to never, ever become the person that makes your partner feel inadequate, alone, and completely unable to escape.
Only suggest “improvements” on BIG issues or behavior patterns. If you nitpick at every little thing that annoys you, irks you, confuses you, or makes you feel a little awkward, the only thing you’ll succeed in is making your partner feel like they’ll never be able to say or do anything that is completely right in your eyes. Here’s the key: if you can apply words like “routinely,” “usually,” or “often” to whatever behavior is bothering you, then bring it up in a neutral way. Instead of saying that it’s wrong, make it about you and how it makes you feel. If his routine condescension to you in arguments makes you feel, say, demeaned or offended, he should quickly pick up on the fact that while his behavior may work elsewhere, it’s not right for his relationship with you. Just know in advance that some patterns of behavior are damn near unchangeable and it may be more fair for you to walk away than expect him to alter a fundamental trait – that’ll just leave both of you frustrated and disenchanted. Otherwise, if it’s a one-off incident that’s not destructive, abusive, or offense… Shrug. It. Off.
“Relationship” doesn’t mean “iron lung.” That is, just because you’re now exclusively emotionally tied to this person does NOT mean you get to breathe for them. Autonomy is just as important a component in a relationship as trust. In fact, the two are pretty inextricably linked – if you trust your partner to act sensibly and in a way that honors your relationship even when he’s not glued to your side, you’re well on the road to a healthy relationship. If you don’t feel like the relationship can work without you telling him what to wear, how to act, what kinds of jokes are okay to make, who to work with, etc., then you should probably accept that it’s just not meant to be.
In addition, I saw this in a Carolyn Hax column and it fit my relationship to a T (but the other way around)… so be wary: “Realize that if you don’t trust your partner but stay in the relationship anyway, leveling accusations and using them to justify imposing stricter and stricter limits on him, then you are, in fact, abusive.”
Be careful: arguments are an opportunity for growth, or for disaster. We joke about women being right 99% of the time, but despite knowing quite acutely that I’m not, I spent a year having it proven to me just how much is sucks to always, always be wrong. Don’t do that to your partner. It’s tough to do, but argue as kindly as you can – no below the belt hits, no intentional nastiness. Even try to eliminate sarcasm if you can, and to vacate the moral high ground (no one owns that territory, believe me). The point in an argument isn’t always to win – if you’re arguing, it probably means that this is an issue you both care about. If winning comes at the expense of convincing your partner their idea is stupid, doesn’t matter, or is unequivocally wrong, be willing to take a hit and end in a tie. Often, it’s not about right or wrong in the general sense, but about coming to a decision you can both agree on, at least partially – a decision that happens to be right for the two folks in your relationship, even if not for the rest of the world.
Hobby-stealing = life-stealing, and it ain’t okay. I went into this past relationship with this reasoning: relationships are like Venn diagrams… here’s your circle, here’s my circle. I do my stuff in my circle, you do your stuff in your circle, and then we overlap sometimes. Over time, the overlap probably increases, but they should never get to the point where they completely overlap. Wellllll… after almost a year, our circles ended up almost completely overlapping and I was so far beyond miserable I couldn’t believe it. Every time I tried to stretch a little, it was perceived as running away, as rejection, as this big horrible, thing that had to be curbed instantly. Worst. Feeling. Ever. Instead of letting your circle start to invade theirs, invite your partner into your life circle, but don’t expect to just waltz right into theirs immediately and start redecorating. If you start to feel like you’re encroaching, find other things to fill your life that make you happy don’t depend exclusively on your partner – keeping yourself busy will do wonders.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. One of the things I constantly got in trouble for was not showing my caring for him in a way he accepted. Do yourself and anyone you love a favor and don’t expect them to conform to the way you think they should love you. Maybe your partner is a little less vocal about emotions, or way over the top – doesn’t mean either is right or wrong. You can ask for things like goodnight/good morning texts, for increased communication or for things like that, but don’t ever tell your partner how to love you. If you can’t stand that you’re not feeling the love the way you want to, then bail. Just don’t ever think you have the right to tell someone that the most intimate thing they can give you, their heart, isn’t good enough because they haven’t packaged it to your liking.
The Foodie Challenges will get started again very soon... but til then, I've got another topic t cover.
I’ve talked at length before about starting “foodie traditions” and how much fun it can be to share good food with even better friends. Well, my girlfriends and I recently started what I hope will be a frequent tradition in my home: having a girls’ brunch in.
That’s right – two weekends before Christmas and there were no buffet-style lukewarm scrambles in sight. This was a home-cooked, piping hot, potluck-style smorgasbord of brunch nom-itude. We took crazy pictures, drank more mimosa punch than I think any of us would care to admit, tried some homemade eggnog, and sat around chatting for hours. Aside from family time, I can say without reservation that that Sunday afternoon was the highlight of my entire season.
Want to try something similar? Check out the details and some do’s and don’t’s after the jump!
Girls’ Glam Brunch details:
- Occasion: just because I missed my ladies.
- Attendance 4 [best friend from high school (with me at right!), one of my bests from college, my best friend from work, and myself]
- Meal: midday brunch
- Drink of choice: mimosa punch
- Responsible for food: everyone!
- Days to plan and organize: 14ish
- Level of glamorous awesomeness attained: off the charts!!
Do's and don't's:
Make it a celebration – or make something to celebrate. The brunch I hosted took place about two weeks before Christmas, just as everyone was prepping to leave town but before people were fleeing the area by plane, train, and automobile. And since I had Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and I-don’t-really-care-ian folks in attendance, it really became more a celebration of a group of girls being brought together than a holiday thing. (All this despite the fact that my place was about five feet deep in Christmas decorations.) Long and short of it is, you don’t need a reason to get your best friends together other than that they’re your bests and that there will be mimosas :)
To thy ownself be true. Know what kind of brunch you want this to be (informal, retro, quick, formal, super-healthy, etc.) and stick to that. Pick a theme or style that will appeal to your friends but also to you. Me, for instance, I decided I wanted to throw a brunch in the retro way -- that is, classy and glamorous. Hence the 1950s vintage punch set, above, that I found for $15 in the newspaper!
Know who's not invited? Procrastination. I’m a planner by nature, but I found that, as a novice hostess, keeping myself organized was key. Now, I made a Christmas binder complete with printables from Organized Christmas, so I was already on a spreadsheet-completing kick, but the party planner was what really helped me bring things together. There I detailed who would be attending, the dishes everyone was bringing, and even laid out how I wanted the table to look. To that, I attached printed copies of the recipes I’d be making, just in case I found myself unable to track down a specific bookmark or pin right when I needed it.
Communicate. Make sure your guests know the dress code, what to bring, when to arrive, and where the heck this thing is taking place. The planner in me must reiterate that confusion only brings things down instead of elevating your party to its utmost potential.
Don’t think you have to go it alone. I’m sorry, I love my friends and I love to cook, but I wasn’t about to spend my entire morning making a three-course brunch. To that end, I enlisted all guests to bring a certain type of dish – one of my girls volunteered to bring a quiche, so I asked another of my friends to bring something else that was salty and complimentary (she ended up bringing INCREDIBLE latkes). Finally, my best friend from high school ended up bringing dessert (mini-cinnamon rolls and muffins). I filled in the gaps on my end with mimosa punch, crockpot applesauce, and a breakfast wreath. Everyone worked, and it ended up being so, so, so very worth it.
Chronicle the good times. Not to put too fine a point on this, but if you’ve spent two weeks prepping for this event, you better damn well get it on film. Even if you don’t want to break out the camera at the table, chronicle the food, the folks, and anything special and event-related. As a hostess, I find things can get a little blurry as you try to make sure everyone has what they need, so it’s nice to have all the little details you worked so hard on there for you to look over later.
Most importantly, ENJOY!!! Your primary aim in having any party is of course to celebrate your guests and the occasion, but it’s also to enjoy it, yourself. After all, these are your friends and your home, and you deserve nothing but a fantastic time :)
RWDs! HAPPY HANUKKAH! MERRY CHRISTMAS! It's been so far too long since I've written anything that I have to apologize -- stories and lessons learned to come, no worries :)
Until then, however, suffice it to say that I've gotten myself through one of the toughest times in my life by pursuing my other great love outside of writing: crafting. If you're following any of my Pinterest boards, you'll notice that I've been quite a devoted pinner the past few months and, happily, the product of all the pinning has been a wonderfully festive apartment and the best Christmas brunch I could imagine.
Check out the graphics below for my 12 Pins of Christmas. The originals are on the left, and my versions are on the right -- links to each pin will follow after the jump!
Catching the Running Bug: 5 Running Tips from a Beginner
It’s not unusual for fitness-minded folks to take up pavement pounding as a hobby – after all, it’s great for your legs, core, butt, and cardiovascular system – but I think I’ve officially caught the running bug, something that years of chronic back and knee problems led me to believe was impossible. But now, I find that running is turning from just a healthy practice into something that I can get competitive about, that can be both fun and satisfying, and that I really enjoy sharing with the people in my life.
Know what started this mental metamorphosis? Signing up for my first race.
Featured on this Greatist list of The 21 Most Incredible Themed Races, my first official 5k was our local Color Run, an event described as the happiest race on earth. I was lucky enough to share this experience with my sweetie, and the result is that I’m now gearing up for my first 8k.
How am I doing it? Check out 5 of the ways that I’m slowly transforming myself from someone who thinks they enjoy running into an actual runner.
1. Find ways to stay motivated BEFORE your run. Getting on the road (or the sidewalk, track, treadmill, or trail) is the most important part of your run, but getting out there can be a struggle. Sit your running shoes by the door. Set a persistent alarm on your phone. Anticipate finishing and plan a way to reward yourself. Get someone to call you to remind you to run, schedule calls with an accountability buddy after your run, or find someone to run with – peer pressure can make you act really stupid when you’re younger, but you can use it to your advantage here.
2. Find ways to stay motivated DURING your run. When it comes to methods to get (and keep!) yourself going, there are as many ways out there as there are brains, so start experimenting. (I personally like some of the ones listed here.) I never used to believe it, but when runners say their bodies could go forever but their minds are what limit them most, I’m realizing it’s the truth. When I’m counting my steps, when I’m picking goals to run to (that lightpost, that sidewalk, that intersection, etc.), and when I’m reminding myself of how proud I’ll be when I finish, the exertion somehow gets easier. Not less painful or tiring, but just less… stressful, maybe. And from there, more enjoyable and easier to continue.
3. Draft a running buddy. Notice how my first two points include using other people to help you stay motivated? Find someone to run with you – especially if you’re either really competitive or need regular encouragement – and you’ll almost certainly increase your performance.
4. Sign up for a race. In sales, this is called assuming the close – that is, going into the situation assuming that you’ll perform well enough to close the deal. It may sound intimidating at first, but in this context, you’re giving yourself a concrete timeline for improvement and assuming that you’ll get there by your promised deadline (which should also be realistic, giving you enough time to train and reach your goals without setting yourself up for failure). After all, at this point you’ve already paid your registration fee and likely found somebody to run with you or cheer you on, so how sucky would it be to flake out?
5. Make a plan. I love schedules and calendars and spreadsheets and, really, plans in general. It’s comforting to have a path to follow, even if you end up having to deviate from it; also, if something’s on my calendar, I’m going to feel at least a little obligated to do it. So it’s no surprise that after giving myself a goal, I looked up and personalized plans to help myself get there. For instance, check out my 8k plan, based on a few half marathon training plans out there. In addition to training plans, I'm also making plans for future races -- researching, registering, recruiting team members -- to give myself more concrete goals.
I love to run. But I'm not sure I would if I hadn't gotten started with mentors—my grandfather and later my high school coach—who taught me that running was supposed to be fun and fulfilling. When I began, I couldn't have imagined that running would take me to the World Championships and the Olympics and to the other great love of my life, my husband, Adam. Not that it has always been smooth sailing. I've dealt with injuries. I've wilted under pressure to perform. But through it all, running has always been a relief and a sanctuary—something that makes me feel good, both physically and mentally. Which is why I want to help other people fall in love with running. Whether you're trying to lose weight or win a race, I hope this advice helps you become a better, happier, healthier, more fulfilled runner.
My work campus is huge. What makes that bad is that it's confusing -- there are a bazillion signs, way too many buildings and, perhaps most horrifying for those not accustomed to them, multi-lane roundabouts.
Which brings me to my point. At least once a week, I find myself brushing elbows with death as someone new to the campus slams on brakes at the first roundabout, switches lanes in the middle of the roundabout, or just goes barreling through traffic with no regard for anyone else's presence. There's got to be a way to educate people about the rules of roundabout navigation!
I know most of my recent how-to's have been more on the abstract side, but I feel like it's time for another practical life lesson: how not to drive like an absolute idiot at roundabouts.
According to RoundaboutUSA.com:
- As you approach a roundabout there will be a YIELD sign and dashed yield limit line.
- Slow down, watch for pedestrians and bicyclists, and be prepared to stop if necessary.
- When you enter, yield to circulating traffic on the left, but do not stop if the way is clear. (This is perhaps my biggest pet peeve: when people think that "yield" means "stop" and that they need to sit and wait at a roundabout when there's absolutely nothing coming. Jeez-o-flip, kids. Take care-- but just go.)
- A conventional roundabout will have ONE-WAY signs mounted in the center island. They help guide traffic and indicate that you must drive to the right of the center island.
- Upon passing the street prior to your exit, turn on your right turn signal and watch for pedestrians and bicyclists as you exit.
- Left turns are completed by traveling around the central island
Can't believe I'm already to recipe #51! It's taken a little longer than I would've liked, but now that we're getting back to cooler weather, I'll be more inclined to stay indoors and cook that I've been this summer. Yay!
This weekend, I spent some time in Bed Bath & Beyond with my sweetie perusing a mutual friend's wedding registry -- talk about overwhelming! While we were searching for the items she listed, we also stumbled upon a mini-pie pan. Now, I've always loved baked goods of every size, but have never ventured into miniature dessert territory. So, on a whim, I snatched up the pie pan, and didn't look back.
Turns out that finding recipes for tiny pies is tough! People either use mini pie-makers, or they use muffin pans in a pinch. So what I ended up doing was taking some pretty serious liberties with a recipe from the back of the pan's wrapping. And guess what? It turned out WONDERFULLY!!
Read on for the recipe and some seriously mouth-watering shots of my original Cherry-berry Mini-Pies!
Ingredients
- 1 package (14oz) refrigerated pie crusts (I used Pillsbury)
- I standard can cherry pie filling
- 1 fresh quart of blackberries, rinsed and chopped (can use more if desired)
- Juice from about half a fresh lemon
- 1 egg, breaten
- White sugar for sprinkling
Prep
Preheat oven to 400 degrees, F.
Unroll dough and press gently to mold to pan. Keep remaining dough covered and moist for later use.
Mix chopped blackberries, can of cherry pie filling, and lemon juice gently together. Try to use a scooping motion rather than a stirring motion to help keep the fruit intact.
Use a measuring cup to spoon 1/3 mixed-together filling into each pie.
From remaining dough, cut lattice, shapes, or tops for the pies. If covering completely, be sure to vent the pies! I cut little heart-shaped holes in mine -- yes, I know how cutesy this sounds!
Finally, lightly brush the tops with beaten egg, then sprinkle with sugar. This will give the crust a nice golden color and some crunch.
Bake for 20-24 minutes. Let cool in pan for 15 minutes, then on a cooling rack until just a little warmer than room temp. Serve alone or with your favorite vanilla ice cream for a wonderful end-of-summer/beginning-of-fall treat!
Well, the last few weeks have been crazy, with lots of work interspersed with a heavy dose of traveling. But one thing I found time for was some baking, even if I didn't have the time to immediately share the results here.
At 9pm on the night before I was set to travel to a lakehouse in New York (a whopping 9+ hour drive from Richmond!), I decided that to curb my pre-trip jitters, baking was needed. So, no surprise here, I hit up my Pinterest board and decided to make these Starbucks-clone Pumpkin Scones.
Unfortunately, since it was late and I kept forgetting things at the store, I didn't take pictures of these delicious and surprisingly easy-to-make fall treats, but head on over to Sweet Pea's Kitchen for the recipe and some drool-inducing photos of the process!
Pinterest has become my new favorite foodie addiction, and I can't leave it alone. Case in point, my most recent recipe endeavors, the first of which is below.
Because I'm a mushroom fan and the friend I was cooking for happens to detest edible fungi, we compromised a picked this dish -- Dijon Chicken Linguine with Chanterelle Mushrooms and Toasted Almonds -- which has a generous serving of mushrooms, but covers them in a rich, delicious Dijon sauce, which I was able to make mercifully low-fat. Guilt-free and nom-a-licious? What's the catch?
Presentation. My photo definitely didn't come out as lovely as the original (used here), but rest assured the actual recipe is beyond delicious. Read on for more!
Ingredients
- 350 gram package fresh linguine, cooked (used pepper and garlic linguine from Trader Joe's -- good choice!)
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup chanterelle mushrooms (baby bellas work just fine! also, the next time I make this, I'll saute the mushrooms before I add them to the sauce -- this will add extra flavor and somewhat improve the texture.)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- Salt and pepper to season
- 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
- 4 oz white wine
- 2 cups whipping cream (or substitute, as I did, 1 C milk to 1TB flour, well-mixed)
- 3 tbsp Dijon mustard (use deli-style Dijon -- it'll probably look prettier in the end!)
- Salt and pepper to season.
Prep
Heat olive oil in a large heavy bottomed frying pan over medium low heat. Add chicken breasts, garlic, season with salt and pepper and continue to fry the chicken until completely cooked. (Honestly, if you're using thick chicken breasts, this takes forever and a damn day. To save time, either slice the breasts into tenders and pan cook that way, or bake or grill the whole breasts until cooked through.) Remove chicken from pan and hold in a warm oven.
Add to the pan:
4 oz white wine
Simmer until volume is reduced by half. Then add:
2 cups whipping cream
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to season.
Simmer until sauce thickens enough to coat a metal spoon. Return Chicken to the sauce, add the chanterelle mushrooms and simmer for an additional 2 minutes. Serve over cooked linguine. Sprinkle with toasted slivered almonds.
I love being an active person, but sometimes finding the juice to turn on the stove after I've worked out can be just short of painful. But on nights like those, I tend to try out new, quick recipes so I can keep my tastebuds on their toes while my body refuels.
This past week on one such evening, I decided to give Iowa Girl Eats's Spicy Tomato & Turkey Soup with Ditalini a go, and boy was that a good decision! It's definitely not your mama's tomato soup -- it's hearty, with beans and meat, and has got a serious bite thanks to the red pepper flakes and Mediterranean seasoning.
Read on for photos and the recipe!
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
10 baby carrots (or 2 whole carrots), chopped
1/2 onion, chopped (I sauted it first, as you can see in the photo below, because there's nothing I detest more than the crunch of fresh onion -- ack!)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1lb 99% fat free ground turkey breast
salt & pepper
1 jar marinara sauce (23-28oz will work fine)
3-14oz cans chicken broth
1 can cannellini or Great Northern beans, drained & rinsed
1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup ditalini, or other small pasta (had to use small elbows, since my goofy store doesn't carry ditalini.... *frown*)
Directions:
1. Heat oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Add in carrots, onion, garlic and turkey breast, and season with salt & pepper. Cook until turkey is no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks.
2. Pour in marinara sauce, chicken broth, beans, red chili pepper flakes and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil, then add in pasta. Simmer soup for 10 minutes, or until pasta is tender. Add more salt & pepper if necessary, and ladle into bowls to serve.
Serve with a salad, a grilled cheese, and/or crescent rolls, and your tastebuds will be in heaven :) Enjoy!
